Portable table top mountable onto a rail

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is a portable table top mountable on a rail. The portable table top has a planar member defining a top portion and a bottom portion, and a fastening mechanism to removably attach the planar member to the rail. The fastening mechanism comprises a clip and a support member. The clip is securely attached to the bottom portion of the planar member. The clip has a slot for receiving a portion of the rail therein. The support member has a support plate and a securing mechanism. The securing mechanism abuttingly couples a first end of the support plate to the rail and enables a second end of the support plate to support the bottom portion of the planar member.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present invention claims priority under 35 United States Code, Section 119 on the U.S. Provisional Patent Application numbered 60/961,055 filed on Jul. 18, 2007, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to furniture, and more particularly to a portable table top used for placing a variety of items thereupon.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many homes and commercial properties are equipped with structures, such as deck or patio areas, that are used as functional outdoor spaces for entertainment and/or relaxation purposes. Such a structure, for example, a deck, is typically constructed from wood or composite materials having a floor and a rail. The floor and the rail define a boundary of the deck. The rail may be made using beams to form a structure of the rail.

A deck owner, who uses the deck for a get together, entertainment or a family function, may require some furniture for the same. However, conventional deck furniture, such as dining tables, side tables and chairs are very expensive. Further, such deck furniture may also be difficult to move due to its weight and cumbersome structure, and therefore may not be as useful for remotely located parts of the deck. Therefore, the deck owner might purchase only a minimum amount of furniture, which is inadequate for a large gathering.

The deck owner may also feel that the space available on the deck is inadequate or inconvenient for placing the conventional deck furniture, as the conventional deck furniture occupies a lot of space on the deck and leaves little space for people. In case of grilling food items, condiments, utensils, and other things are generally brought to the deck from the house and are placed on the deck furniture. If the deck furniture is not closely located to the grill or is occupied with other things, there may be no convenient space to place such items. Furthermore, due to inadequate space on the deck furniture, drinks are also frequently placed on the rail of the deck, or at other inconvenient places on the deck that are not meant to serve as a surface for drinks. In such cases, drinks may easily fall or be knocked over by the people, thereby resulting inconvenience to the people.

As described above, deck furniture is generally heavy and is difficult to move when needed. So, in the event of grilling out, socializing with neighbors, or hosting an event, the deck furniture may be placed at one location that is not necessarily centered or convenient for such purposes. For example, during the event, the entire group of people may not want to or be able to gather around an item of deck furniture such as the dining table for an entire event. Further, it is impractical to move a dining table in round robin fashion to various groups of people so that they may have a surface to place drinks or food thereon, as needed.

Therefore, to overcome all the above-mentioned problems, there is a need for a portable, light weight, inexpensive table top for the deck or the patio areas.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the prior art, the general purpose of the present invention is to provide a portable table top on a rail to include all the advantages of the prior art, and to overcome the drawbacks inherent therein.

An object of the present invention is to provide an inexpensive, light weight portable table top that may be removably attached to a rail of a deck for creating additional space on the deck.

Therefore, in one aspect, the present invention discloses a portable table top mountable on a rail. The portable table top comprises a planar member defining a top portion and a bottom portion, and a fastening mechanism to removably attach the planar member to the rail. The fastening mechanism comprises at least one clip and at least one support member. The at least one clip is securely attached to the bottom portion of the planar member. The at least one clip has a slot for receiving a portion of the rail therein. The at least one support member comprises a support plate and a securing mechanism. The securing mechanism abuttingly couples a first end of the support plate to the rail and enables a second end of the support plate to support the bottom portion of the planar member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a portable table top mounted onto a rail illustrating an application of the portable table top, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates another perspective view of the portable table top mounted onto the rail and depicting at least one clip of a fastening mechanism, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates the at least one clip of the fastening mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 illustrates attachment of the at least one clip to a planar member of the portable table top, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 illustrates another perspective view of the portable table top mounted onto the rail and depicting a support member of the fastening mechanism, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 illustrates a support plate of the support member, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 shows a threaded wing nut of the of the support member, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the portable table top mounted onto the rail illustrating another application of the portable table top, according to another embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the portable table top mounted onto the rail, according to another embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a portable table top which may be mounted on a rail of a deck, patio, and the like. The portable table top has a planar member having a top portion and a bottom portion, and a fastening mechanism that is used to removably attach the planar member to the rail. The fastening mechanism comprises at least one clip and a support member that are used to attach the bottom portion of the planar member to the rail.

Referring to FIG. 1, a perspective view of a portable table top 100 mounted onto a rail 120 illustrating an application of the portable table top 100, is shown, according to an embodiment of the present invention. The portable table top 100 comprises a planar member 102 providing a usable surface area, where items 122 may be placed. The items 122 may include, but are not limited to, food, beverages and utensils. The planner member 102 is mounted onto the rail 120 using a fastening mechanism (not shown), which is explained in conjunction with FIGS. 2 to 7. The planar member 102 generally extends horizontally from the rail 120, and preferably extends partially on either side of the rail 120, for providing increased stability to the planar member onto the rail 120. The planar member 102 may be made from suitable materials including, but not limited to, plastic, wood, ceramic, aluminum and titanium. It will be apparent to those ordinary skilled in the art that the planar member 102 may be configured of various sizes to place the items 122 thereupon.

The planar member 102 has a top portion 104 and a bottom portion 106. The top portion 104 provides the usable surface area for placing the items 122 thereon and the bottom portion 106 is attached to the rail 120 by using the fastening mechanism. A front edge 108, side edges 110 and 112 opposite to each other, and a rear edge 114 of the planner member 102 are shown in FIG. 1. In an embodiment of the present invention, the planar member 102 comprises a lip 116 extending upwardly from the side edges 110 and 112 and the rear edge 114, as shown in FIG. 1. Although not shown in FIG. 1, an additional similar lip may extend upwardly from the front edge 108 of the planar member 102. It should be understood that although it is preferable that the lip 116 extending from the side edges 110 and 112 and the rear edge 114 of the planar member 102 is of the same height, however it is not required.

FIG. 1 shows use of the portable table top 100 as a refreshment table or a beverage bar table, for example, the items 122 such as bottles, stemware, and a tray containing the bottles and stemware are placed onto the planar member 102 for such use. Although it should be understood that the use to the portable table top 100 is not only limited to the refreshment table or the beverage bar table.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 to 7, the various perspective view of the portable table top 100 depicting the fastening mechanism and components of the fastening mechanism are shown, according to an embodiment of the present invention. Further, a process of mounting the portable table top 100 onto the rail 120 may also be explained with the help of FIGS. 2 to 7.

Referring specifically to FIG. 2, a perspective view of the portable table top 100 mounted onto the rail 120 is shown, according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 depicts the at least one clip such as clips 200 of the fastening mechanism. The clips 200 facilitate in mounting the planar member 102 onto the rail 120. Specifically, each of the clips 200 is attached to the bottom portion 106 of the planar member 102 and receives a portion of the rail 120 in a slot formed within each of the clips 200. The configuration and assembly of the clips 200 onto the bottom portion 106 are explained in conjunction with FIGS. 3 and 4.

Referring now to FIG. 3, configuration of the clip 200 of FIG. 2, is shown, according to an embodiment of the present invention. The clip 200 has three sides, a first side 202, a second side 204 and a third side 206. The three sides of the clip 200 form a slot 208. The slot 208 is a three sided slot capable of receiving the portion of the rail 120. The first side 202 of the clip 200 has two threaded holes 210 to facilitate in attaching the clip 200 to the bottom portion 106. Further, the third side 206 of the clip 200 has another threaded hole 212, which facilitates in receiving the portion of the rail 120 in the slot 208. The attachment of the clips 200 to the bottom portion 106 of the planar member 102 is shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 4 illustrates the clips 200 as securely attached to the bottom portion 106 of the planar member 102 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The first side 202 of each of the clips 200 is securely attached to the bottom portion 106 of the planar member 102 with the help of at least one screw, such as screws 302. More specifically, the screws 302 are tightened into the threaded holes 210 of the first side 202 of each of the clips 200 to securely attach the clips 200 onto the bottom portion 106 of the planar member 102. The clips 200 are attached to the bottom portion 106 of the planar member 102 near side edges 110 and 112 of the planar member 102. Although, FIG. 4 shows only two clips such as the clips 200, it should be understood that there may be more than two similar clips attached to the bottom portion 106 of the planar member 102.

Referring again to FIG. 2, slots 208 (see FIG. 3 or 4) of the clips 200 hook onto the portions of the rail 120. When the clips 200 hook onto the portion of the rail 120, thumbscrews 214 are screwed from an underside of the rail 120 as shown in FIG. 2. More specifically, the thumbscrews 214 are screwed into the threaded holes 212 of third sides 206 of the clips 208, and are tightened till the clips 200 securely grips onto the portions of the rail 120. The thumbscrews 214 may be loosened to remove the planar member 102 from the portion of the rail 120. Further, in case of shifting the portable table top 100 on a new position on the rail 120, the thumbscrews may be loosened and the portable table top 100 may be slid to the new position. Further, the thumbscrew 214 may be tightened, securing the planar member 102 on the new position of the rail 120.

The clips 200 of the fastening mechanism are attached on one side of the rail 120 and the portable table top 100 to mount the planar member 102 onto the rail 120. The fastening mechanism further comprises at least one support member to provide enhanced support to the planar member 102 onto the rail 120, from another side of the rail 120. The at least one support member of the fastening mechanism is explained in conjunction with FIGS. 5 to 7. Referring specifically to FIG. 5, the at least one support member, such as a support member 500 is shown, according to an embodiment of the present invention. The support member 500 comprises a support plate 502 and a securing mechanism 504. The support plate 502 is represented in FIG. 6 and the securing mechanism 504 is represented in FIG. 7. A first end 506 of the support plate 502 is abuttingly coupled to the rail 120 and a second end 508 of the support plate 500 supports the bottom portion 106 of the planar member 102, as shown in FIG. 5.

The support plate 502 is configured to support the planar member 102 with the help of the securing mechanism 504. More specifically, the securing mechanism 504 is coupled to the bottom portion 106 of the planar member 102 through an elongated slot 510 in the support plate 102, thereby securing the support plate 102 therebetween. The securing mechanism 504 may be any suitable fastening mechanism, which may be attached to the bottom portion 106 through the elongated slot 510. In an embodiment of the present invention, the securing mechanism 504 comprises a bolt 512 and a threaded wing nut 514 as shown in FIG. 7. The bolt 512 is screwed into the threaded wing nut 514. The combination of the bolt 512 and the threaded wing nut 514 is inserted in the elongated slot 510 of the support plate 502 (see FIG. 5). The threaded wing nut 514 is configured to screw the bolt 512 in the planar member 102 from the bottom portion 106 of the planar member 102, such as, the securing mechanism 504 enables coupling the first end 506 of the support plate 502 to the rail 120 and enables the second end 508 of the support plate 502 to support the bottom portion 106 of the planar member 102.

The support member 500 may be placed directly in line with the clips 200. The support member 500 is preferably located at a center portion of the bottom portion 106 of the planar member 102 in order to provide support to the planar member 102. Although FIG. 5 shows a single support member such as the support member 500 at the bottom portion 106 of the planar member 102, it should be understood that there may be a plurality of such support members at the bottom portion 106 of the planar member 102 for supporting the planar member 102. The threaded wing nut 514 may be loosened in order to remove the planar member 102 from the rail 120.

The planar member 102 is mounted onto the rail 120 by the clips 200 and the support member 500 of the fastening mechanism. In order to remove the portable table top 100 from the rail 120, or move the portable table top 100 from one position to another position on the rail 120, the clips 200 and the support member 500 may be loosened or removed. As described previously, the clips 200 may be detached from the rail 120 by unscrewing the thumbscrews 214 and the support member 500 may be removed by unscrewing the threaded wing nut 514. Further, the planar member 102 may be slid from one position to the another position on the rail 120 by only loosening the thumbscrews 214 and the threaded wing nut 514 without the need of completely removing the clips 200 and the support member 500.

FIG. 8 shows another application of the portable table top 100 according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 shows that the portable table top 100 may be used as a grill accessory table or a condiments table. Herein, the items 122 such as ice bucket, a glass stand, a holder for silverware, napkins, plates or condiments may be built-in onto the top portion 104 of the planar member 102. The portable table top 100 may also have hooks (not shown) extending from the bottom portion 106, the front edge 108, or the side edges 110 and 112 of the planar member 102 to hang barbeque tools, and the like. Further, it will be apparent to those ordinary skilled in the art that the portable table top 100 may be also used as a dining table, serving table or buffet table, decorative accent or plant table.

The planar member 102 of the portable table top 100, as represented in FIGS. 1 and 8, is of rectangular shape, which should not be considered limiting. It will be apparent to those ordinary skilled in the art that planar member 102 may be of other shapes such as circular, elliptical, square, and the like. FIG. 9 shows a perspective view of a portable table top 900, according to another embodiment of the present invention. Herein, the portable table top 900 comprises a planar member 902, which is circular in shape. The planar member 902 may be used as a ‘Lazy Susan configuration’, as a disk may be placed onto the planar member 902, which is configured to rotate (represented by arrow). The planar member 902 comprises a top portion 904 and a bottom portion 906. The planar member 902 may also preferably comprise a lip 908 extending upwardly from a portion of the top portion 904 as shown in FIG. 9. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the lip 908 may also extend upwardly from entire periphery of the top portion 904 of the planar member 902.

Various embodiment of the present invention provides a portable table top such as the portable table tops 100 and 900, which is mountable on a rail of a deck or patio area of a house. The portable table top provides a usable surface area to place various items thereupon. The portable table top may be easily mounted onto a desired position of the rail and may be removed or shifted to other position conveniently. The portable table top may be designed in various shapes and sizes to place the variety of items thereupon. The fastening mechanism and clips thereof may be adjusted between uses of the portable table top to accommodate rails of various sizes. The portable table top provided by the present invention is inexpensive, easy to design and easy to carry. 

1. A portable table top mountable onto a rail, the portable table top comprising: a planar member defining a top portion and a bottom portion; and a fastening mechanism comprising, at least one clip securely attached to the bottom portion of the planar member, the at least one clip comprising a slot for receiving a portion of the rail therein, and at least one support member comprising a support plate and a securing mechanism, the securing mechanism for abuttingly coupling a first end of the support plate to the rail and enabling a second end of the support plate to support the bottom portion of the planar member.
 2. The portable table top of claim 1, wherein the at least one clip further comprises a thumbscrew, the thumbscrew capable of being removably screwed in a threaded hole of the at least one clip, the thumbscrew further capable of being tightened to fix the portion of the rail between an end of the thumbscrew and the bottom portion of the planar member onto the rail.
 3. The portable table top of claim 1, wherein the support plate comprises an elongated slot, the elongated slot enabling the securing mechanism to move along the elongated slot to abuttingly couple the first end of the support plate to the rail and enabling the second end of the support plate to support the bottom portion of the planar member.
 4. The portable table top of claim 3, wherein the securing mechanism comprises a bolt in a threaded wing nut, the threaded wing nut configured to screw the bolt in the planar member from the bottom portion of the planar member.
 5. The portable table top of claim 1, wherein the slot of the at least one clip is a three sided slot.
 6. The portable table top of claim 1, further comprising at least one screw for securely attaching the at least one clip to the bottom portion of the planar member. 